Backend Engineer - Product Team
Is this you?
We are looking for a Backend Engineer for our Product team who is keen on designing, building, deploying, and operating the Memrise backend systems that help people around the world learn new languages, enriching their minds so they can enrich their world.
This is a great time to join our team. We are rolling out a completely new learning experience and doing some fascinating work in using the world’s video content to immerse people in the languages they are learning. We are seeking someone who listens to others, offers their own wisdom, and then rolls up their sleeves to do the work, bringing others along with them.
Can you tell me more about Memrise’s tech?
Our backend is primarily Python with some Django, hosted in the cloud using Kubernetes. All our infrastructure is configured with Terraform, and we have a continuous deployment pipeline for most systems including the backend and website. Currently, we’re using MySQL but are looking at re-architecting our database as part of company ambitions to significantly scale our product and content.
What will I be accountable for?
Work in our product team to design and implement new features in the Memrise platform
Identify ways to improve the Memrise user experience by improving our backend code and then make it happen
Accelerate engineering, product development and the business at Memrise by improving the tools we use day-to-day, or by building new ones
Here’s a preview into what you’d be working on—within 90 days, you will have:
Developed and deployed a new area of functionality in the Memrise backend application
Working understanding of the Memrise backend and supporting infrastructure
(level 2 only) Independently broke down a larger problem and developed the functionality in the Memrise backend application
What are the key technical requirements for this role?
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, and proactivity when communicating with frontend devs, backend devs or product
Ability to learn rapidly, both proactively and from mistakes
Good python coding skills, ideally with some experience working with Django and relational databases
Excellent at testing and debugging with a good knowledge of modern testing practices
Motivated to make a high quality digital product, focussing on the needs of users
Efficient and independent, able to get things done quickly and correctly even in unfamiliar areas, including debugging unfamiliar code
Good team player and motivated to work closely with other team members as part of pairing sessions, PR reviews etc.
Nice-to-have (though we can provide on-the-job training for all of these!)
Enthusiastic and proactive about enforcing good coding standards and improving existing systems
WIlling to make small changes / debug frontend code in conjunction with the backend cod
Experience on an on-call rota for a critical production system
Who are we?
Memrise is a popular and established global language learning tool, with a unique brain-science-backed pedagogy.
We want to make people’s lives better by helping people learn to hold a conversation with, and genuinely understand native speakers in a multitude of languages.
We believe that better communication between people across the world from different backgrounds will contribute towards making it a better place.
With over 60m user accounts, an App Store rating of 4.7/5 and Google Play rating of 4.6/5 from 1.5million reviews, and millions of daily active users, we’re an ambitious digital company in the exciting and ever-growing EdTech industry.
A key part of our product appeal lies in the humour of our content, and in authentically understanding diversity and nuances across cultures and what appeals to different people. So if you’re looking for a role that’s less big-corporate and where being yourself is regarded as an asset: we strongly suggest you consider applying!
What’s the working environment like?
You’ll join our London team of open-minded, big-hearted, goal-oriented ‘Memrisians’, made up of linguists, developers, designers, marketers and more, all working together to do great things. Get in touch if you want to join the team.
What are some of the benefits?
Share options, so you can retire on an island
Generous Learning and Development budget for training, conferences, books and L&D leave
Enhanced Parental Leave
Flexible working options
Private health insurance with Vitality, and related perks (50% off a Virgin and Nuffield Health Gym memberships)
Dental insurance with Unum
Language classes with in-office and virtual tutors
Cycle-to-work scheme
Remote talks, socials, and parties
We’re an equal opportunity employer. If it’s okay, we’re not going to list examples of people and groups we don’t discriminate against. We don’t discriminate, full stop. We celebrate.
What about salary?
Dependant on experience:
Junior Engineer £30-45k
Mid Level Engineer £45-67.6k